Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz published a joint statement this evening (Tuesday) following the IDF airstrike against Hamas leaders in Qatar earlier this afternoon.
"Yesterday, after the murderous attacks in Jerusalem and Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu directed all security elements to prepare for the possibility of striking the Hamas leadership. The Defense Minister fully supported this initiative," the statement began.
"This afternoon, in light of an operational opportunity, and in consultation with all security establishment heads, and with full backing, the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister decided to implement the directive that was given last night to the IDF and the ISA, which did so with precision and in an optimal manner.
"The Prime Minister and the Defense Minister believed that the action was fully justified given the fact that it was this Hamas leadership that initiated and organized the October 7 massacre, and - since then - has not ceased from launching murderous operations against the State of Israel and its citizens, including taking responsibility for the murder of our citizens in yesterday's terrorist attack in Jerusalem," the statement concluded.
Six people were murdered in a terrorist shooting attack at a bus station in the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem yesterday. Hamas praised the attack and later claimed responsbility for it.
This afternoon, Israel launched an airstrike in the Qatari capital of Doha targeting Hamas leaders. Four Hamas leaders, Khaled Mashal, Khalil al-Hayya, Zaher Jabarin, and Nizar Awadallah, were reprotedly eliminated in the airstrike, according to the Saudi Al Hadath channel. Al Jazeera published a Hamas official's claim that the Hamas leaders survived.
The Prime Minister's Office stated following the airstrike: "Today's action against the top terrorist chieftains of Hamas was a wholly independent Israeli operation. Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility."